Package and closure



Dem 17, 1946. P, )H 2,412,794

PACKAGE AND CLOSURE Filed July 24, 1941 Patented Dec. 17, 1946 I UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE AND CLOSURE William P. White, Glencoe,Ill., assignor to White Cap Company, Chicago, 111., a

Delaware corporation oi Application July 24, 1941, Serial No. 403,844

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of such a packagewhich may be supplied to the packer at very low cost because of thefacts that the glass receptacle may be made quite thin and the closureis of a simple con-. struction which permits its being manufactured atvery low cost.

Another object is the provision of such a package wherein the receptacleand closure are so for'med'and related that the closure may beappliedand sealed on the receptacle very quickly and with reliable certaintyincident to highspeed commercial packing procedure.

Another object is the provision of such a package in which the closurewill remain securely in place when sealed on the receptacle and form abuifer or fender for protection of the glass receptacle against lateralimpacts, yet which may be removed quickly and easily by the housewife,

when desired, without involving any puncturing or mutilation of theclosure itself and without subjecting the fragile thin glass containerto dangerous stresses or pressures.

Another object is the provision of a package of 3 Claims. ((1215-40)claims short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the inventionin the art.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of a package embodyingmy invention, showing the upper portion of th receptacle in elevationand the closure in section and in process of being applied to thereceptacle; the parts are shown on an enlarged scale and parts arebroken out of both the receptacle and the closure in order to reduce thelateral extent of the figure, consequently, the width of the figure ashere illustrated is in a veryconsiderably reduced proportion relative tothe thickness and height of the parts;

Fig. 2 is a similar illustration showing the relationship of the upperend portion of the receptacle and the closure when the latter has thesort specified above and in which the form and proportions of theclosure and the receptacle are such that the closure will receive themouth of the receptacle very freely, so that it may drop onto it quitequickly and readily into the position for sealing, and yet wherein theextent of eccentricity of the closure on the receptacle is limited 7 insuch fashion as to prevent a disproportionate or excessive overhang orlateral projection of the closure at one side of the receptacle ascompared with the extent of overhang or lateral projection at thediametrically opposite side.'

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out orindicated hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art uponan understanding of the invention or its employmentshown in Fig. I,

larged over that of the preceding figures; and

Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the relationship of the closure to thereceptacle in the course of the application of the closure by aprocedure now quite generally used, the illustration showing a portionof the closure and upper portion of the a receptacle in verticalsection.

For the preservative packaging offood prodnets in glass, the useof thinglass receptacles is desirable from the standpoint of customer appealand saving in shipping, weight and packaging bulk. Because of theirgreater frangibility,

however, thin glass receptacles require that the packaging and sealingoperations be performed .with increased accuracy and with lightpressures and, moreover, increase the difiiculty of obtaining airtightseals. The improvements constitute ing the present invention have beenfound eifective to eliminate many of the serio' s difficulties anddisadvantages which heretofore have attended the use of thin glassreceptacles in commercial packing of commodities in vacuo. The

The package constituting the present inven- V nated generally by thereference numeral l0, and a closure, which is designated generally bythe reference numeral H. The receptacle may be in the form of a jar,tumbler or the like and 7 tion comprises a glass receptacle, which isdesigannular extent lies as nearly as possible in a common planeapproximately perpendicular to the axis of the receptacle. This crown islocated an appreciable distance inwardly from the perimeter or outermostlateral surface of the bead The closure ii comprises a shell which isformed from sheet material such as tin plate of suitable strength andstiffness, and it is shaped with a top portion l5 which is of somewhatgreater diameter .than the receptacle bead i2,

and a skirt which depends from the periphery of the top l5 and is shapedadjacent the top with an outwardly projecting circumferential beadingi8, and below said beading with an approximately cylindrical portion ll.The deflection of the skirt material from the bead l8 to the dependingsklr-tportion i1 is quite abrupt, the bend at A being substantiallysharper than, or on a shorter radius than, the concave curvature of thebead 18, as illustrated by way of example in Fig. 4. The cylindricalportion I1 is of somewhat smaller external diameter than the beading l6,and its internal diameter exceeds the outer diameter of the receptaclemouth bead i2 sufiiciently to permit the latter to enter freely andreadily within the shell skirt when the closure and receptacle mouth arein approximately coaxial or concentric relationship. A gasket H of fiatring form is adherently secured to the top H5 in approximatelyconcentric relationship with the skirt. This gasket is formed of asealing material which is fairly firm but plastic at ordinary roomtemperature and which may be rendered slightly tacky by heating. Asuitable material is a rubber composition which has been cured in suchfashion as to give it the desired plasticity and firmness. The thicknessof the gasket approximates the height of the beading i8, and itsexternal diameter is preferably approximately the same as the internaldiameter of the cylindrical skirt portion i1, while its widthconsiderably exceeds the radial thickness of the vessel wall inclusiveof the bead l2. This gasket preferably is pre-formed and inserted intotheshell through the skirt portion I1 and secured in place .by pressingit against the top l5 while heat is applied to the latter in amountsufficient to render the contacting portion of the gasket slightly tackyand cause it to adhere to the under surface of the top. In this fashionthe gasket may be intimately and firmly connected to the shell. Thedepth of the shell skirt is such that the cylindrical portion i 1 willbe opposite the widest diameter of the bead i2 and will extend somewhatbelow said bead when the under surface of the gasket I8 is resting onthe crown [4. This relationship of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 2,and it will be seen that when so-associated the receptacle bead I2 isadapted for cooperation with the skirt portion I! to insure that theline of contact between the crown i4 .and the gasket I8 is located asubstantial distance inwardly from the periphery of the gasket at allpoints in th circumferential direction. In Fig. 2 the parts are shown inthe relationship wherein the skirt portion I1 is in contact with thebead I! at one side of the package. This represents the position ofmaximum eccentricity of the closure relative to the receptacle, and itwill be observed that in that relationship the skirt portion II belowthe point of contact with the bead is held spaced an appreciabledistance outwardly from the receptacle wall, whereas at the oppositeside of the package the margin of the skirt is, perforce, spaced fromthe receptacle wall by a slightly greater distance as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3. Moreover, the shell skirt is sufllciently shallow topermit .the closure to be swung freely upwardly to a'position where theskirt is higher than the mouth rim at the skirt portion ll. Due to thefact that the crown is spaced a substantial distance inwardly from theouter margin of the gasket when the closure is resting loosely on thereceptacle, the downward movement of the shell in the sealing operationcauses displacement, of the plastic gasket material in the outwardradial direction from the entering crown of the receptacle as well as inthe inward radial direction, and the continuing cooperation of the beadl2 with the skirt I'I during downward movement of the'closure T preventsits creeping laterally on'the receptacle to a position where the outermargin of the gasket would reach the crown. It is to be observed alsothat the beading l6 accommodates outward displacement of the plasticgasket material incident to the intrusion of the mouth rim. As aconsequence of these several factors, a broad sealing area or area ofcontact between the mouth rim and the gasket material is obtained cleararound the mouth of the receptacle, and the intrusion of the mouth riminto the asket may be accomplished with comparatively light pressure.This latter effect, as well as the fact that the entry of the crown intothe gasket is at a substantial distance from the periphery of thelatter, are of particular importance when thin glass receptacles areused.

The application and the sealing of the closure upon the receptacle arepreceded by the exhaus- .tion or evacuation of air from within theclosure and the head space of the receptacle, so that after the closurehas been pressed to sealed position as explained above, the pressurewithin the sealed package will be below that of the atmosphere and thelatter will hold the closure in place. The closure may be removed byprying it upwardly Y in the customary manner by means of a bottle openerof the conventional hook type.

As-pointed out above, the cooperation of the head I! with the skirtportion I'I limits the extent to which the closure may be displacedeccentrically relative to the receptacle, and also holds the lowermargin of the skirt spaced away from the periphery of the vessel at allpoints, The limiting of the eccentricity of the closure contributes tothe appearance of the package. The spacing of the lower margin oi. theclosure from the wall of the receptacle has several advantages. When sospaced, the lower portion of the closure skirt constitutes a bufferwhich will yield under lateral impacts without transmitting their forceto the glass receptacle locally. The projecting margin of the skirtaffords secure engagement for the opener at any point around thepackage, and hence reduces the likelihood of the glass receptacle beingbroken by the slipping off of the opener. One of the most importantadvantages lies in the fact that the construction avoids the applicationof cramping or constrictive crushing stresses to the thin glassreceptacle by the prying leverage of the opener in the closure removingoperation. Particularly in the case of packages which, after sealing,have been subjected to cockcircumstances, the bond may be so strong thatthe lower portion of the closure skirt will be drawn quite considerablyout of its circular form closure even though they are considerably outof.

alignment. Fig. 1 serves to show how the bead I2 will serve to guide theclosure onto the mouth of the receptacle, even though the margin of theskirt may not be clear of the head I! at all points. This is of distinctadvantage in facilitating the application of the closures while thereceptacles are in progressive movement. Fig. 5 serves to illustrate thecooperation ofthe parts incident to the application of the closure in anapparatus of the sort illustrated in 'my U. S. Patent No. 1,920,539. Theclosures are fed in a series down an inclined chute marked C while thereceptacles are moved progressively in a series in such fashion that thesuccessive receptacles meet the successive closures at the lower end bythe prying force of the opener, before the bond is broken. In the use ofclosure caps of prior con- 12 on the receptacle and the skirt portion llof the closure shell are such that the skirt I! is spaced a substantialdistance away from the wall of the receptacle when the closure is insealed position on the receptacle, even though the closure is at aposition of maximum eccentricity relative to the receptacle illustratedin Fig. 3. Thus there is provided between the skirt portion I1 and thewall of the receptacle a clearance which, at its minimum, is as wide asthe bead I2 is thick radially, which clearance allows for maximum inwarddeflection of the skirt margin under the opening pressure. Furthermore,the bead l2 itof the chute and withdraw them therefrom incident to thefurther progressive movement of the receptacles. In such an operation itis necessary to have a suitable engagement of the closure by the upperportion of the receptacle to insure that matelyhorizontal position overthe receptacle.

In Fig. 5 it'is seen how the bead l2 overhangs the lower portion of theskirt at the point of contact and thereby efiects a very secureengageself interposes a limiting effect upon the inward deflection ofthe skirt, as when the skirt comes affording space for lateraldisplacement of the gasket material as above mentioned, affords an Aimportant fender or protection for the glass vessel against impacts suchas might result from lateral impingement of one package against anotheror the falling over of a package on a conveyor or the like. Moreover,the beading It has a definite s-tiflening and shape-maintaining effectupon both the top portion l5 and the skirt portion l1, as it resists thebending of the top portion l5'out of its normal plane and also resiststhe flexing of the skirt portion l1 out of its normal circular contourby prying pressure such as is customarily applied to those parts byanopener in the operation of lifting the closure from the receptacle tobreak the hermetic seal.

The construction affords additional advantages in the operation ofapplying the closure to the ment which will insure that the closure ispositively withdrawn from the chute, even though the point of engagementbetween the bead and the closure skirt is adjacent the lower margin ofthe latter so that the gasket I8 is spaced a substantial1 distance abovethe mouth rim of the receptac e.

Accordingly, it is to be observed that by virtue of the cooperativecharacter and arrangement of the parts, my improved package greatlyfacilitates the packing and sealing operations, ailords importantsafeguards against injury, increases the security and reliability of theairtight seal, facilitates its opening, and safeguards the frangiblereceptacle against breakage incident to the application of upward pryingpressure to the closure skirt for the purpose of removing the closure.

What I claim is: u 1. In a vacuum seal package comprising a frangiblereceptacle having an annular wall portion with an annular mouth rimhaving a peripheral bead encompassing it and projecting outwardly fromthe mouth rim and wall portion, a closure adapted for retention on thereceptacle by atmospheric pressure alone, said closure comprising ashell having a top portion for covering the receptacle mouth and anannula skirt depending from said top portion, a, gasket of plasticsealing material secured to the underside of the top portion and adaptedto form a seal upon the annular mouth rim of the receptacle, the upperportion of said skirt being formed as a circumferential beadingextending outwardly beyond the 1 portion of the skirt therebelow, theportion of the skirt which is below said beading being deflectedabruptly therefrom and being of approximately cylindrical form and ofcircumferential size and depth to swing freely clear of the mouth rim onone side of the receptacle while the gasket is in contact with the mouthrim on the opposite side,

the depth of the skirt beading and thickness of the gasket being suchthat when the gasket is receptacle. For example, if the closure isapplied resting on the mouth rim of the receptacle in position forsealing thereon, the head or the latter will be within said lowerportion oi! the skirt in position to space the skirt entirely away fromthe annular wall portion of the receptacle below the bead when theclosure is moved downwardly to sealed position on thereceptacle.

2, In a vacuumseal package which includes a frangible receptacle havingan annular mouth rim and an annular wall portion therebelow'and anannular peripheral bead projecting outwardly ening beading extendingoutwardly beyond the portion of the skirt therebelow, the portion of theskirt below the beading being of circumferential size and depth to admitentry of the mouth rim freely into'contact with the gasket when theclosure top is in canted relationship to the receptacle, said lowerportion of the skirt depending approximately perpendicularly from theplane of the top portion for cooperation with the peripheryof thereceptacle bead to insure a predetermined minimum radial clearancebetween the skirt and the wall of-the receptacle below the bead when theclosure is moved downwardly to sealed position on the mouth rim.

3. A vacuum seal package comprising a receptacle having an annular wallportion with an annular mouth rim and an annular peripheral beadencompassing the mouth rim and projecting outwardly from said wallportion, and a closure adapted for retention on the receptacle byatmospheric pressure alone, said closure compris ing a shell having atop portion for covering the receptacle mouth and a depending annularskirt, a gasket 01 plastic sealing material secured to the underside ofthe top portion and disposed to form an air-tight seal upon the annularmouth rim, the upper portion of the skirt being formed as an outwardlyprojecting annular heading and the lower portion of the skirt being ofapproximately cylindrical form and being or circumferential size anddepth to be swung freely into and out of encompassing relationship withthe bead on one side of the receptacle while the gasket is in contactwith th mouth rim at the diamet 'rically opposite location, thethickness of the gasket being such that when it is resting on the mouthrim of the receptacle preliminary to sealing, ,the peripheral bead ofthe latte will be within said lower portion or the skirt, saidperipheral bead being of sufllcient width in the radial direction tokeepthe skirt entirely spaced away from all portions or the receptacle wallbelow the perimeter of said bead when theclosure is in sea]- ingengagement with the receptacle.

WILLIAM P. WHITE.

